The Swiss terrorism problem may appear unspectacular. However, it is profound and permanent, said Rouiller in an interview with the “Neue Zürcher Zeitung”. Switzerland must expect that there will be more attacks by individual perpetrators who have been inspired by the ideology of IS.
The profiles of the perpetrators in Morges and Lugano are very similar. Both perpetrators have contacts to people, networks and communities that are connected to the terrorist organization. They had exchanged views with foreign IS fighters in Syria.
Risk remains
It is true that the two acts met with little response in Switzerland. To conclude from this lack of interest that Switzerland is of no interest to IS or Kaida, or to conclude that there is no terrorist risk in Switzerland, is wrong and dangerous.
When asked whether people were more prone to extremist ideology in the wake of the corona pandemic, Rouiller said that many people had become socially isolated during the lockdown. This makes them more vulnerable to the promises made by terrorists who provide simple answers to complicated questions.
Two attacks in a short time
A 29-year-old Portuguese was stabbed to death in a knife attack in Morges in mid-September. He admitted that he acted out of revenge against the state of Switzerland. The authorities had him targeted for jihadist activities.
Furthermore, at the end of November, a 28-year-old woman attacked two women in a large Lugano department store, one of them with a knife. One of the victims was seriously injured. The Federal Office of Police suspected a terrorist background.
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